Thursday, January 21, 2010

A Major Victory For the First Amendment - And Why It's Making Obama Crazy

Damn that First Amendment! Who do these peons think they are?

The US Supreme court, in a five to four decision struck down a major part of McCain-Feingold, gutting legislation that I and many others have long said was unconstitutional:

In a stunning reversal of the nation's federal campaign finance laws, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Thursday that free-speech rights permit groups like corporations and labor unions to directly spend on political campaigns, prompting the White House to pledge "forceful" action to undercut the decision.

In a written statement, President Obama said the high court had "given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics." He called it a "major victory" for Wall Street, health insurance companies and other interests which would diminish the influence of Americans who give small donations. Obama pledged to "work immediately" with Congress to develop a "forceful response."

"The public interest requires nothing less," Obama said.

Siding with filmmakers of "Hillary: The Movie," who were challenged by the Federal Election Commission on their sources of cash to pay for the film, the court overturned a 20-year-old ruling that banned corporate and labor money. The decision threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.

The justices also struck down part of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that barred union- and corporate-paid issue ads in the closing days of election campaigns.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the main opinion, which reads in part that there is "no basis for allowing the government to limit corporate independent expenditures."

"There is no basis for the proposition that, in the political speech context, the government may impose restrictions on certain disfavored speakers," he wrote. "The government may regulate corporate speech through disclaimer and disclosure requirements, but it may not suppress that speech altogether."

For an excellent video primer of the issues involved,check out by the Cato Institute:

So why are Prez Zero, Chuckie Schumer, and Nancy Pelosi so exercised by this?

As I'm sure you know by now, it's not that these fine, upstanding self-effacing public servants are against special interests - far from it. They just want to limit it to their friends and be able to control it to their benefit.

Union donations to the Democrats were never affected by McCain-Feingold. After lying about accepting public financing, Prez Zero raised and spent more money on his Presidential campaign than anyone in history, and and the unions ponied up over one third of the total, which is the huge hidden factor behind the way the GM and Chrysler buyouts were handled,the exemption Obama gave the unions from the tax on 'Cadillac' health plans mandated by ObamaCare and numerous other sleazy special interest deals.

Heck,the SEIU gave failed Senate candidate Martha Coakley a million bucks for her campaign..no problem.

McCain-Feingold never affected the infamous practice of bundling either, or sideways contributions from trade associations like the trial lawyers or shadow PACS, which is why George Soros and a few other Lefty billionaires effectively own the Democratic Party.

Today’s ruling could lead to more corporate and union election spending, but since none of this money can go directly to candidates the corruption factor is limited. The money will go towards spreading information about candidates and issues.

Aside from being a major victory for free speech, this levels the playing field. And that's why the Left hates it.